Groundwork in Southampton

Groundwork Solent established a partnership with Southampton City council (SCC) in July 2006 following 2 years of development work culminating in a proposal to extend Groundwork Solent into Southampton. This proposal sets out a range of programmes and activities which Groundwork would undertake over a six year period including projects that focus on 3 key themes:

• Improvements to green spaces and community access
• Improving the environment of housing estates
• Involving young people in transforming their city.

To coordinate Groundwork’s work in the city, a delivery board has now been established that will oversee the progress of the programme.

Outlined below is a selection of projects in Southampton

Grow it, Share it, Eat it
Freemantle Lake Park
Thornhill Adventure Playground
Daisy Dip
Holyrood Play Area

Grow it, Share it, Eat it

The Grow it, Share it, Eat it project encourages families and residents to enjoy the outdoors while working on an allotment. The project enables Thornhill residents to grow their own fruit and vegetables to take home, promoting a healthier lifestyle. Free transport is provided, if required, as well as all tools and equipment. All residents need do is turn up and get gardening.

Two sessions a week are run; the Wednesday session between 10am-2pm is for adults and the Saturday session between 10am-12noon is for families. Both sessions are free and anyone who lives in Thornhill can attend. Children are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult.

Freemantle Lake Park

Groundwork Solent has been commissioned by Southampton City Council to carry out public consultation on proposed improvements to be made to Freemantle Lake Park. Potential improvements are illustrated in the two sketch designs. We welcome your feedback on the designs as part of the consultation process. If you wish to comment on the designs or offer further suggestions, please email your thoughts to Tim Cooper at Tim.Cooper@groundwork.org.uk or by phone on 02380 338550. Alternatively, you can post your comments to us at Groundwork Solent, Wheatsheaf House, 24 Bernard Street, Southampton, Hampshire. SO14 3AY.

Click on the images to the right to download PDFs of the designs.

Thornhill Adventure Playground

Residents voice their concerns

Groundwork Solent was contacted by local residents who voiced their concerns about the playground being situated near their homes. The residents were in favour of the playground, but made major concerns regarding the location.

Groundwork Solent met with the headteacher of the school to discuss if there could be a new location within the school that would be more suitable to all concerned.

We are happy to report that we have now agreed a new site for the adventure playground, within the school grounds, which is suitable, both to the residents and the school.

Daisy Dip

Groundwork Solent has been working with Southampton City Council to consult and involve residents of Bassett and Swaythling in environmental improvements to Daisy Dip, and to prepare proposals on these improvements and the future management of the site.

Comprehensive landscape, ecology and arboriculture surveys have already been made, and from these a number of potential improvements have been identified, including the repair of bridges, the removal of invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and laurel, and improvement of habitats.

On the 10th November a special BBC Breathing Spaces event was held at Daisy Dip, which was attended by several organisations, including Groundwork, the Hawthorns Centre, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trust and the RSPCA. The event was promoted by interviews on local radio prior to and on the day of the event, and the event was also listed on the Autumn Watch television programme. As well as a number of fun activities on offer, there was the opportunity to express ideas on how the park could be improved and also to take part in some of the physical work at the site, involving the opening up of a previously unsafe and unpleasant pathway, allowing native species to flourish. The clearance works also allowed the participation of volunteers from the Southampton University’s Student Community Action group and a number of people from the Hampshire Probation Service. Further work was undertaken on the 24th and 25th November, which was again carried out with the aid of Student Community Action, Hampshire Probation Service and residents of the area.

During the event there was much interest from residents in setting a ‘Friends of Daisy Dip’ group, which would be involved in the future management of the park. Groundwork Solent is now in the process of helping to establish this group, ensuring that members of the local community have a say in the future management and development of their local park.

Holyrood Play Area

The Multi Use Games Area and play facility in Holyrood estate is a vital open space for residents and young people in the area. The multi use games area that presently occupies most of the play space is a well utilised facility, but dominates the majority of the space, and is in need of replacement due to its age.

Groundwork Solent has worked with the local residents association, local housing office and the Central Neighbourhoods Partnership, to redevelop the play area. During the summer school holidays residents and young people were able to comment on a concept design for the site as well as discuss how they would like the play space improved, a focus group has been set to input on the a final design for the site, and to make an application for grant funding.

In October 2009 Groundwork Solent were awarded a £30,000 grant from The S.I.T.A environment trust to improve the flooring of the multi use games area, the improvement work will start in late October and work was finished by Christmas 2009.

For Information on this project please contact Ellie Monks Groundwork Solent Southampton Office